Hair dressing implement



Nav. 19,' 1940. 2f B CHENE? 2,221,757

HAIR DRESSING IMPLEMENT I Filed oct'.l 9, 1959 Patented Nov. 19, 1940 vU NITED STAT-Es iimTElsVr yo FFICE 1 .2,.a21,757fv l v HAIR DRESSING IlVIPIJEMENTy ZeltaI Beryl Cheney, San FranciscmCalif. Application october 9, 1939, serial No; 298,609

-13 claims (o1. isa- 19)4 y vit will be `retracted into the sheath and guarded My invention relates to hair dressing implements and more particularly to implements especially adapted for use in permanent waving operations.

In preparing the hair for permanent waving it is necessary to separate it into strands each of which must be combed into a at strand about two inches in width. Each strand must then Abe wound on a heater by means of an implement known as a needle, whichis a rod, usually three or four inches long and about an eighth of an inch in diameter. This operation must be repeated from twenty-live to thirty-five times on each subject, and each time fthe operator r must lay -down the comb, pick up the needle, lay

down the needle and pick up the comb.

Prior to my invention these implements have never been satisfactorily combined in a ysingle implement, because it is necessary that the lcomb be shielded toavoid entanglement with the hair when the needle is being used, and that the needle be at least guarded to avoid similar entanglement or possible injury to the subject when the comb is being used.

It is therefore the principal object Vof my .invention to provide a combination needle and comb in which either of these implements. lmay be guarded against entanglement with Athe hair while the other is being used. p

A further object of my invention is to provide an implement of this character which is capable of adjustment from the condition in which either the comb or needle is guarded to the'opposite condition, by a one-hand operation While the'implement isheld therein, to avoid any 4risl: of'disarrangement of a combed strandflieldV by the other hand.

A further object of my invention is to provide an implement` of this character which can [be cheaply and easily manufactured. a

The foregoing objects and others y 'ancillary thereto I prefer to accomplish by providing a hollow handle member constituting a sheath having an open end through which the comb may slide, and arranging the needlefeither integral with the handle member adjacent the open end of the sheath or integral with the comb and slidable into and out of the 'sheath as the comb slides out of and into the sheath. A I

If the needle is made integral withthe handle member, as first described, the comb in its exposed position will serve as a guardfforfthe needle preventing entanglement of the latter with the hair during combing. If 1the need-leds y made integral with the comb, as next described,v rr`v thereby when the comb is exposed. In either case the comb must be retracted within the sheath and guarded thereby against entanglement with vthe hair when the needle is being used.

ItisA also Vdesirable to provide a latching device for-holding' the comb vin its exposed position with respect to the sheath, and a latch may also be provided for holdingit in retracted position. A further desirable, though optional, refinement is -thel provision of a spring for retracting the comb into the sheath upon release of the latch holding it in exposed position, since this makes possible the most speedy, one-hand adjustment of the device at the time when the operator is holdingafcombed strand of hair in one hand and desires to use the needle promptly to avoid disarrangement.

'The novel features of my invention arev set forth lwith particularly in the appended claims. Theinventiom together with additionalv objects t'and advantages thereof, however, will be best understood from 'the vfollowing description of 'specic embodiments, when read with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of apreyierred embodiment of the invention;

.i Figure '2 is a view in side elevation ofA the device of Figure 1, with one side of the handle memberremoved andthe comb in exposed position;

Figure 3 is a view in plan ofthe device of Fig- Iure .1 I Figure 4 is a sectional view of the device of .Figure 1,taken-on the line 4-4 of said figure;

. vFigure 5 is a View in side elevation of an alternative embodiment of my invention, with, one side of the handle member removed; and

'Figure 6 is an enlarged detail View of the latching mechanism utilized in both of the above embodiments. Y As'shown fin Figures l'toflof the accompanying drawing the' preferred embodiment of my invention comprises a metal orcompositi'on handle member II! recessed as at II to provide a sheath for acomb I2 longitudinally slidable into and out of the sheathvthrou'gh the open end I3.` The recessed handle member I0 is preferably providedl with a cover plate I 4 fixed thereto by means such las pins Illa. and having a longitudinal slot I5 through which extends va pin I6 Yseated in a hole I1 in the comb I2 and provided with a screwed onthead I8 by means of which l'the ycomb may be moved longitudinally into exposed or retracted position :with respect' to. the

In order to latch the comb I2 in such exposed or retracted position, the pin I6 is preferably made with an enlarged intermediate portion I9 capable of seating in depressions 20 formed internally of the cover plate I4 adjacent the ends of slot I5; the enlarged portion I9 being resiliently retained in either of said depressions 20 by a spring 2| compressed between head I8 and a washer 22 slidable on the exterior of the cover plate I4. When the spring 2| is compressed by pressure exerted by the thumb or linger on head I8, the portion I9 will be moved out of either depression 20 into a wider portion 23 of slot I5 so that the pin I6 and comb I2 may be moved longitudinally in either direction to expose or retract the comb.

It is also desirable, for reasons hereinabove set forth, to provide spring means for retracting the comb into the sheath upon release of the latch holding it in exposed position. For this purpose the present device, as shown-in Figures 2 and 4, includes a flat helical spring 25 disposed within the handle member I0. One end of the spring 25 is attached to a post 26 fixed in the handle member I0, and the other end is fixed to the inner end of the comb I2, so that -upon movement of the comb to exposed position, as shown in Figure 2, the spring 25 is tensioned, and upon release of the latching device, bypressing head I8 and releasing it, the spring will immediately move the comb to retracted position. In the preferred embodiment of my invention the needle is made integral with the handle member` and extends parallel to the path of movement of the comb I2 from adjacent the open end I3 of the sheath. This arrangement is such that the comb I2 in its exposed-position, as shown in Figure 2, constitutes a guard for the needle 30 preventing it from entangling nearby hair or jabbingthe subject as it might if it .projected unguarded from any other part `of the handle. It may furthermore be disposed ,so as to contact the back of the comb I2 when the latter is in exposed position so as to furnish mechanical support for it in use.

In the alternative embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawing the handle member is recessed as at 4I to provide a common sheath for the integral comb 42 and needle 43, the comb being longitudinally slidable through the open end 44 of recess 4I and the needle being concurrently m'ovable through an opening 45 in the opposite end of refcess 4I to the retracted position indicated by the line 47 in Figure 5. A cover plate (notshown) may of course be provided so as to completely enclose the comb or needle when retracted into the recess.

The means for moving and latching the comb and needle of this alternate embodiment corresponds to that utilized in the preferred embodiment hereinabove described and illustrated in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawing, and the description need not therefore be repeated.

. A somewhat simpler spring mechanism for retracting the comb and exposing the needle is illustrated in Figure 5 as comprising a coil spring 46 disposed in the recess 4I and tensioned between an inner wall of the recess and the adjacent end of the comb 42, so that when the comb is moved to exposed position by manipulation of head I8, the spring 46 will be tensioned, and when the latching device is released by depressing head draw the comb 42 into the sheath and extend the needle 43 to exposed position.

In using this alternative embodiment the operator must of course reverse the position in which the implement is held in the hand in switching from a combing operation to a spreading operation in which the needle is utilized, and the embodiment first described is preferred because no such reversal is necessary. The alternative y embodiment may, however, be manufactured and sold more cheaply, and both embodiments insure that the comb will be satisfactorily shielded when the device is adjusted for using f the needle, and vice versa.

It will be seen therefore that both of the above described embodiments of my invention accomplishthe objects set forth, and it will be apparent that other modifications of the form in which the invention is embodied are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be considered as restricted to the forms disclosed, except insofar as is necessitatedby the prior art and by the spirit of the appendedcl'aims. j

I claim:

, 1. An implementmof the character described comprising a handle member,` a combv sheath within said handle member having an opening adjacent one end thereof, a comb slidably mounted within's'aid sheath and movable through said opening'to an exposed position, and a needle element lassociated with said handlev member and comb, sowthat movement 'of the comb into the sheath will exposey said needle element for wrapping operations.,A

' 2. An. implement of the I character described comprising a handle' 'memben a comb sheath within s'aid handle member having an opening adjacent oneI thereof alcomb slidably mounted within saidsheath and movable through said opening to an exposed position, and a needle element associated withsaid handle member and comb so that movement of the comb into the sheath will expose said needle element for wrap ping operations, and means l forflatching said `comb in exposed position.

SJAnimplement .of the vcharacter described comprisingl la handlefmember, a comb sheath within sandhandle member having an opening adjacent one end thereof, a comb slidably mounted within said shea'thand movable through said openingtoan exposedposition, and a needle ele- .ment associated with said handle member and comb so `that movement of the comb into the sheath` will expose said needle element for wrapping-cperations, means for latching said comb in exposedv position, and means for latching said comb in retracted position within said sheath.

4. Animplement ofthe character described comprising a handlel member, a combv sheath within said handle member having an opening vadjacent one end thereof, a comb slidably mounted lwithinsaid.sheath and movable through said opening ,to 'ian exposedposition, andv a needle element associated with said handle member and comb so that movement oftthe comb into the sheathwillexposevsaid needle element for wrapping-operations, means for latching said comb in exposed-position, and .spring meansdisposed within said handle member for retracting said comb within said sheathV upon releasev of said latching'means. f

, 5. -An implement of the character described comprising a member having a handle portion and anintegral fneedle portion projection from one I8 and releasing it, spring 46 will immediatelyendfthereof, la,231,112,slleath within said handle portion having an opening adjacent the junction of said handle and needle portions, and a comb slidably mounted Within said sheath and movable through said opening to an exposed position in which the back of said comb lies adjacent said needle portion and constitutes a guard therefor.

6. An implement of the character described comprising a member having a handle portion and an integral needle portion projecting from one end thereof, a comb sheath within said handle portion having an opening adjacent the junction of said handle and needle portions, a comb slidably mounted Within said sheath and movable through said opening to an exposed position in which the back of said comb lies adjacent said needle portion and constitutes a guard therefor, and means for latching said comb in exposed position.

7. An implement of the character described comprising a member having a handle portion and an integral needle portion projecting from one end thereof, a comb sheath within said handle portion having an opening adjacent the junction of said handle and needle portions, a comb slidably mounted within said sheath and movable through said opening to an exposed position in Which the back of said comb lies adjacent said needle portion and constitutes a guard therefor, means for latching said comb in exposed position, and means for latching said comb in retracted position within said sheath.

8. An implement of the character described comprising a member having a handle portion and an integral needle portion projecting from one end thereof, a comb sheath within said handle portion having an opening adjacent the junction of said handle and needle portions, a comb slidably mounted Within said sheath and movable through said opening to an exposed position 40 in which the back of said comb li'es adjacent said needle portion and constitutes a guard therefor,

means for latching said comb in exposed position,

and spring means disposed Within said handle portion for retracting said comb Within said 45 sheath upon release of said latching means.

9. An implement of the class described comprising a handle member, a sheath Within said member having openings adjacent opposite ends thereof, and an integral comb and needle ele- 50 ment slidably mounted in said sheath and so related in length to said sheath as to cause movement of said element through one of said openings to expose said comb, to eiect substantially complete retraction of said needle Within the 55 sheath, and to cause movement of said element through the other of said openings to expose said needle, to eiect substantially complete retraction of said comb Within said sheath.

10. An implement of the class described comprising a handle member, a sheath Within said member having openings adjacent opposite ends thereof, an integral comb and needle element slidably mounted in said sheath and so related in length to said sheath as to cause movement of said element through one of said openings to expose said comb, to effect substantially complete retraction of said needle within the sheath, and to cause movement of said element through the other of said openings to expose said needle, to effect substantially complete retraction of said comb Within said sheath, and means for latching said comb in exposed position.

1l. An implement of the class described comprising a handle member, a sheath Within said member having openings adjacent opposite ends thereof, an integral comb and needle element slidably mounted in said sheath and so related in length to said sheath as to cause movement of said element through one of said openings to expose said comb, to eiect substantially complete retraction of said needle Within the sheath, and to cause movement of said element through the other of said openings to expose said needle, to effect substantially complete retraction of said comb Within said sheath, means for latching said comb in exposed position, and means for latching said needle in exposed position.

l2. An implement of the class described comprising a handle member, a sheath Within said member having openings adjacent opposite ends thereof, an integral comb and needle element slidably mounted in said sheath and so related in length to said sheath as to cause movement of said element through one of said openings to expose said comb, to effect substantially complete retraction of said needle Within the sheath, and to cause movement of said element through y the other of said openings to expose said needle to eiect substantially compl-ete retraction of said comb Within said sheath, means for latching said comb in exposed position, and spring means disposed Within said handle member for retracting said comb Within said sheath and exposing said needle upon release of said latching means.

13. An implement of the character described comprising a handle member having a longitudinally extending channel therein forming a sheath, a comb and pin carried by said handle in mechanical relation, the comb being slidably mounted in the channel, and means on the handle for projecting or retracting the comb, respective movements of the comb serving to guard and expose the needle.

ZELTA BERYL CHENEY. 

